Reviewed by Tony Cummings

This 2010 release shows the singer/songwriter, much loved in church circles for bringing a fiery gospel element into modern worship music, spent a small fortune in recording this set at Abbey Road's renowned studio. Award winning producers Tommy Sims and Aaron Lindsey ensure the sounds on offer are rich and varied, particular standouts being "Mercies", with Kirk Franklin guesting, and "Surprises", with Israel helped out by Fred Hammond. The most powerful worship song of all is the closer "Hosanna", though with an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink eight-minute arrangement some will find it a tad OTT. Also, the album is very much a concept project with short musical interludes and fragments of speech segueing the tracks together which doesn't always work. My personal favourite is the title track opener, which sounds great on radio. Overall, though, this is something of a curate's egg album - effective only in parts.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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